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Ethel was my paternal grandmother. We had the most special bond for the
first eight years of my life before she passed away. She nurtured me by
cooking for me, letting me comb her hair (I’m sure I was a terrible stylist)
and just genuinely loving me. When she passed away, I was devastated
(since it was sudden) but as I now remember how I used to feel around her
and I try my best to ensure that I give my own daughter the same love she
gave me and I do my best to make sure she shares the same bond with her
grandparents.
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Alvin is my dad. He taught me a lot about having respect for myself and for
others and to show people compassion, the same things he showed me. As a
child, I didn’t always think he loved me because he was what I consider strict.
But, as I grew, I found that the things he taught me were for my benefit and
are the same things that I try to instill in my daughter. He also instilled a love
of all kinds of music because he is a music teacher. To this day, I look rely
heavily on music, no matter the mood, the time or the place.
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Pamela is my mom. Very similar to my dad that she taught me to be kind to
everyone and she also taught me to cook. She taught me how to carry myself
like a young woman.
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Laura was my maternal grandmother. She was also a nurturer and the
grandmother that let me get away with a lot of things. She was kind and
gentle. And reflecting on her and the times we spent together makes me
realize that she was a nurturer of my social relationships. At least once a
month, she would take my cousins and me and host a sleepover for us. Those
were the times that we would get together and play. As we got older, we
grew closer and those bonds still exist today.
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Ms. Grissett was my Language Arts teacher through my middle school years.
She was the teacher who pulled out the best in all of her students. Also, she
was the teacher who made sure that the environment was as comfortable as
possible. I remember one of the big projects we worked on would be a
poetry book. She would turn on good music (usually jazz) and dim the lights
and let us write and design our books. When I talk to my classmates from
those years, we all agree that being in Ms. Grissett’s room was one of our
fonder memories during middle school
Hi Alvia
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog on your childhood web. You sound about your grandmother's like I was with my maternal grandmother. We lived next door and I consider(ed) her my other mother.
Angela
Alvia,
ReplyDeleteYour personal childhood web is lovely, as is your explanations of the people who are a part of it. I've very envious of the time you had with your grandparents. I did not get the chance to meet mine, aside from my fathers mom, who I sadly met for the first time (to my memory) in the hospital before she passed away. I'm also envious of your ELA teacher, I do wish I experienced a teacher who had an influence on me. Great post!
Hi Alvia,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog. It sounds like you have a wonderful family who cares and supports you. I can relate to you comment about thinking your dad was too strict but later realizing it was all done for your best interest. I am going through that with my own children. I see your name is similar to that of your dad. I can relate to that as well. My name was almost Jamesetta (my dad's name is James.) But my mother wasn't too fond of the name.
Hi Alvia!
ReplyDeleteYour personal childhood web was wonderful to learn about. I feel the same thing about my grandfather as you do your grandmothers. I try to instill everything he has taught me into the children I teach (since I am not a mother yet). I cannot wait to teach my future children about their ancestors though. My father has also taught me respect (not only others but for myself). Thank you for sharing your post!
Alvia,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your personal childhood web. Having a sense of belonging, showing unconditional love, and helping to instill value are important to a child's life. It still like your web did just that.
Alecia